(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-03-02 19:14

BEIJING  -- China's new generation of carrier rocket, the Long March 5, with a maximum payload capacity of 25 tons, will come into use in 2014, said an official with the China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology on Sunday.

The rockets will be made in Tianjin and launched in Hainan, said Liang Xiaohong, vice president of the academy and a member of the 11th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), the top political advisory body.

The 11th CPPCC National Committee will start its annual full session on Monday.

The 25-ton payload capacity, more than double the current limit of 9.2 tons, will greatly improve the country's capability in space exploration, said Liang.

The Long March 3C carrier rocket will come out of production later this month and is scheduled to be launched in the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in the southwestern province of Sichuan next month.

The Long March 1 to 4 series have sent more than 20 satellites into space since April 24, 1970, when a Long March 1 rocket was launched.

China used Long March 3A for its first lunar probe Chang'e-1 in October 2007.